Staff profile

Employment

2023 – now Associate Professor, University of Durham, UK

2018 – 2023 Assistant Professor, University of Durham, UK

2013 – 2018 Research Fellow in Plant Sciences, University of Durham, UK

2011 – 2013 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain

2010 – 2011 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK

2007 – 2010 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of St Andrews, UK

2004 – 2007 Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Bristol, UK

Education

1999 – 2003 DPhil (PhD) in Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, UK 

1996 – 1999 BA Biological Sciences Honours Degree, University of Oxford, UK

Research Interests

I am interested in the genomic basis of adaptive trait variation and its evolution in response to a range of selection pressures. I have experience studying this question in a range of the contexts including: speciation, hybridization, invasiveness, and breeding systems in several plant species. At Durham Biosciences, I conduct studies in the genus Linum (flax/linseed) to test how selection shapes the genetic architecture of a range of traits including: distylous breeding systems, local adaption, and domestication traits by combing genomics approaches with field and glasshouse experiments. My other active collaborations include studies of Haeterina spp. (rubyspot damselflies) and invasive Centaurea solstitialis (yellow starthistle) and genetic variation in wild relatives and landraces of rice and chickpea.

Supervisory availability

I am looking for interested PhD and Master candidates for projects in the following topics. Please contact me to discuss further. 

Development of flax wild relative genetic genomic resources

The importance of location of origin for wildflower seed mixes

Teaching

Level 2: Evolution

Level 3: Genomics (coordinator), Genes and Diversity workshop, Literature Review, Research Project, Contemporary issues in the Biosciences

Level 4: Research Skills

Committees and Collegiality

Biosciences Academic Lead of the Durham Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility since 2024

Biosciences Academic Director of Durham Botanic Garden since 2022

Biosciences Academic Advice Coordinator since 2018 

Biosciences Deputy International Exchange Coordinator since 2023

Associate editor for: Frontiers in Plant Science; AoB Plants; Evolutionary Ecology; Web Ecology 

 

Journal Article

• Nevado, B., Chapman, M. A., Brennan, A. C., Clark, J. W., Wong, E. L. Y., Batstone, T., McCarthy, S. A., Tracey, A., Torrance, J., Sims, Y., Abbott, R. J., Filatov, D., & Hiscock, S. J. (online). Genomic changes and stabilization following homoploid hybrid speciation of the Oxford ragwort Senecio squalidus. Current Biology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.08.009
• Jhar, A., Sabbagh, S., Elkhattab, E., Abrak, S., Hatipoğlu, H., & Brennan, A. (2024). Optimising Gamma Irradiation Seed Treatment of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Varieties for Potential Future Application in Mutation Breeding. Crop Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, 6(3), Article e240004. https://doi.org/10.20900/cbgg20240004
• Lakmes, A., Jhar, A., Sadanandom, A., Brennan, A. C., & Kahriman, A. (2024). Inheritance of Resistance to Chickpea Fusarium Wilt Disease ( Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris Race 2) in a Wide-Cross Cicer arietinum × Cicer reticulatum Mapping Family. Genes, 15(6), Article 819. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15060819
• Landoni, B., Suárez-Montes, P., Habeahan, R. H. F., Brennan, A. C., & Pérez-Barrales, R. (2024). Local climate and vernalization sensitivity predict the latitudinal patterns of flowering onset in the crop wild relative Linum bienne Mill. Annals of Botany, 134(1), 117–130. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcae040
• Chapman, M. A., Hiscock, S. J., Antonovics, J., Barrett, S. C. H., Brennan, A. C., & Liu, J. (2024). Reflections on the life and work of Richard Abbott (1945–2024). Molecular Ecology, 33(14), Article e17439. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17439
• Patterson, C. W., Bonillas-Monge, E., Brennan, A., Grether, G. F., Mendoza-Cuenca, L., Tucker, R., Vega-Sánchez, Y. M., & Drury, J. (2024). A chromosome-level genome assembly for the smoky rubyspot damselfly (Hetaerina titia). Journal of Heredity, 115(1), https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esad070
• Irimia, R. E., Montesinos, D., Chaturvedi, A., Sanders, I., Hierro, J. L., Sotes, G., Cavieres, L. A., Eren, Ö., Lortie, C. J., French, K., & Brennan, A. C. (2023). Trait evolution during a rapid global weed invasion despite little genetic differentiation. Evolutionary Applications, 16(5), 997-1011. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13548
• Lakmes, A., Jhar, A., Penmetsa, R. V., Wei, W., Brennan, A. C., & Kahriman, A. (2023). Inheritance of seed weight and growth habit in 10 intercross chickpea (Cicer arietinum) nested association mapping populations. Plant Breeding, 142(1), 86-96. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.13065
• Lakmes, A., Jhar, A., Brennan, A. C., & Kahriman, A. (2023). Inheritance of early and late Ascochyta blight resistance in wide crosses of chickpea. Genes, 14(2), Article 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14020316
• Foroozani, A., Desmond, E. L., Gough, C. A., Pérez-Barrales, R., & Brennan, A. C. (2023). Sources of variation in reciprocal herkogamy in the distyly floral syndrome of Linum tenue (Linaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences, 184(2), 142-155. https://doi.org/10.1086/723564
• Gutiérrez-Valencia, J., Fracassetti, M., Berdan, E. L., Bunikis, I., Soler, L., Dainat, J., Kutschera, V. E., Losvik, A., Désamoré, A., Hughes, P. W., Foroozani, A., Laenen, B., Pesquet, E., Abdelaziz, M., Pettersson, O. V., Nystedt, B., Brennan, A. C., Arroyo, J., & Slotte, T. (2022). Genomic analyses of the Linum distyly supergene reveal convergent evolution at the molecular level. Current Biology, 32(20), 4360-4371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.042
• Lakmes, A., Jhar, A., Penmetsa, R., Wei, W., Brennan, A., & Kahriman, A. (2022). The Quantitative Genetics of Flowering Traits in Wide Crosses of Chickpea. Agriculture, 12(4), Article 486. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12040486
• Landoni, B., Viruel, J., Gomez, R., Allaby, R. G., Brennan, A. C., Pico, F. X., & Perez-Barrales, R. (2020). Microsatellite marker development in the crop wild relative Linum bienne using genome skimming. Applications in Plant Sciences, 8(5), Article e11349. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.11349
• Walter, G. M., Abbott, R. J., Brennan, A. C., Bridle, J. R., Chapman, M., Clark, J., Filatov, D., Nevado, B., Ortiz Barrientos, D., & Hiscock, S. J. (2020). Senecio as a model system for integrating studies of genotype, phenotype and fitness. New Phytologist, 226(2), 326-344. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16434
• Gu, X., Brennan, A., Wei, W., Guo, G., & Lindsey, K. (2020). Vesicle transport in plants: A revised phylogeny of SNARE proteins. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 16, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1176934320956575
• Brennan, A. C., Hiscock, S. J., & Abbott, R. J. (2019). Completing the hybridization triangle: the inheritance of genetic incompatibilities during homoploid hybrid speciation in ragworts (Senecio). AoB PLANTS, 11(1), Article ply078. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/ply078
• Exposito-Alonso, M., Brennan, A. C., Alonso-Blanco, C., & Pico, F. X. (2018). Spatio-temporal variation in fitness responses to contrasting environments in Arabidopsis thaliana. Evolution: International Journal of Organic Evolution, 72(8), 1570-1586. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13508
• Abbott, R. J., Comes, H. P., Goodwin, Z. A., & Brennan, A. C. (2018). Hybridisation and detection of a hybrid zone between mesic and desert ragworts (Senecio) across an aridity gradient in the eastern Mediterranean. Plant Ecology and Diversity, 11(3), 267-281. https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2018.1496366
• Brennan, A. (2017). Distyly supergenes as a model to understand the evolution of genetic architecture. American Journal of Botany, 104(1), 5-7. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1600363
• Silva, J., Brennan, A., & Mejías, J. (2016). Population genetics of self-incompatibility in a clade of relict cliff-dwelling plant species. AoB PLANTS, 8, Article plw029. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plw029
• Brennan, A., Hiscock, S., & Abbott, R. (2016). Genomic architecture of phenotypic divergence between two hybridizing plant species along an elevational gradient. AoB PLANTS, 8, Article plw022. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plw022
• Brennan, A. C., Woodward, G., Seehausen, O., Munoz-Fuentes, V., Moritz, C., Guelmami, A., Abbott, R. J., & Edelaar, P. (2015). Hybridization due to changing species distributions: adding problems or solutions to conservation of biodiversity during global change?. Evolutionary Ecology Research, 16(6), 475-491
• Brennan, A., Hiscock, S., & Abbott, R. (2014). Interspecific crossing and genetic mapping reveal intrinsic genomic incompatibility between two Senecio species that form a hybrid zone on Mount Etna, Sicily. Heredity, 113, 195-204. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2014.14
• Abbott, R., & Brennan, A. (2014). Altitudinal gradients, plant hybrid zones and evolutionary novelty. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 369(1648), Article 20130346. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0346
• Brennan, A., Méndez-Vigo, B., Haddioui, A., Martínez-Zapater, J., Picó, F., & Alonso-Blanco, C. (2014). The genetic structure of Arabidopsis thaliana in the south-western Mediterranean range reveals a shared history between North Africa and southern Europe. BMC Plant Biology, 14, Article 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2229-14-17
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2013). The population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility in three hybridizing Senecio (Asteraceae) species with contrasting population histories. Evolution: International Journal of Organic Evolution, 67(5), 1347-1367. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12033
• Brennan, A., Barker, D., Hiscock, S., & Abbott, R. (2012). Molecular genetic and quantitative trait differentiation associated with the recent homoploid hybrid speciation: A study of Senecio squalidus (Asteraceae). Heredity, 108(2), 87-95. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2011.46
• Brennan, A., Bridgett, S., Shaukat, A. M., Harrison, N., Matthews, A., Pellicer, J., Twyford, A., & Kidner, C. (2012). Genomic resources for evolutionary studies in the large, diverse, tropical genus, Begonia. Tropical Plant Biology, 5(4), 261-276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-012-9109-6
• Cruz, F., Brennan, A., Gonzalez-Voyer, A., Muñoz-Fuentes, V., Muthukrishnan, E., Roques, S., & Picó, F. (2012). Genetics and genomics in wildlife studies: Implications for ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. BioEssays, 34(3), 245-246. https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201100171
• Brennan, A., Tabah, D., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2011). Sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus (Asteraceae): S allele dominance interactions and modifiers of cross-compatibility and selfing rates. Heredity, 106(1), 113-123. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2010.29
• Brennan, A., & Hiscock, S. (2010). Expression and inheritance of sporophytic self-incompatibility in synthetic allohexaploid Senecio cambrensis (Asteraceae). New Phytologist, 186(1), 251-261. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.03082.x
• Abbott, R., Hegarty, M., Hiscock, S., & Brennan, A. (2010). Homoploid hybrid speciation in action. Taxon, 59, 1375-1386
• Brennan, A., Bridle, J., Wang, A., Hiscock, S., & Abbott, R. (2009). Adaptation and selection in the Senecio (Asteraceae) hybrid zone on Mount Etna, Sicily. New Phytologist, 183(3), 702-717. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02944.x
• Hegarty, M., Barker, G., Brennan, A., Edwards, K., Abbott, R., & Hiscock, S. (2009). Extreme changes to gene expression associated with homoploid hybrid speciation. Molecular Ecology, 18(5), 877-889. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2008.04054.x
• Abbott, R., Brennan, A., James, J., Forbes, D., Hegarty, M., & Hiscock, S. (2009). Recent hybrid origin and invasion in the British Isles by a self-incompatible species, Oxford ragwort (Senecio squalidus L., Asteraceae). Biological Invasions, 11(5), 1145-1158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9382-3
• Hegarty, M., Barker, G., Brennan, A., Edwards, K., Abbott, R., & Hiscock, S. (2008). Changes to gene expression associated with hybrid speciation in plants: Further insights from transcriptomic studies in Senecio. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 363(1506), 3055-3069. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0080
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2006). The population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus L. (Asteraceae): The number, frequency, and dominance interactions of S alleles across its British range. Evolution: International Journal of Organic Evolution, 60(2), 213-224. https://doi.org/10.1554/05-231.1
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2005). Modes and rates of selfing and associated inbreeding depression in the self-incompatible plant Senecio squalidus (Asteraceae): a successful colonizing species in the British Isles. New Phytologist, 168(2), 475-486. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01517.x
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2003). The population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus L. (Asteraceae) II: A spatial autocorrelation approach to determining mating behaviour in the presence of low S allele diversity. Heredity, 91(5), 502-509. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.hdy.6800315
• Hiscock, S., McInnis, S., Tabah, D., Henderson, C., & Brennan, A. (2003). Sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus L (Asteraceae): the search for S. Journal of Experimental Botany, 54(380), 169-174. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erg005
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., & Hiscock, S. (2003). The population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus L. (Asteraceae): Avoidance of mating constraints imposed by low S allele number. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 358(1434), 1047-1050. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2003.1300
• Brennan, A., Harris, S., Tabah, D., & Hiscock, S. (2002). The population genetics of sporophytic self-incompatibility in Senecio squalidus L. (Asteraceae) I: S allele diversity in a natural population. Heredity, 89, Article 430-438. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.hdy.6800159